The Baltimore County Council voted Monday to increase the minimum fine for illegal dumping trash on roads and alleys.
The bill sets a minimum penalty of $500, with a maximum of $1,000. It also allows a judge to set jail time of up to six months for a person found guilty of dumping.
Existing law set the maximum fine of $1,000, but had no minimum fine. With no minimum fine, there was little to deter someone from pulling off the road and dumping their trash, said County Councilman Todd Crandell, the bill's lead sponsor.
Crandell, a Dundalk Republican, persuaded all six of the other council members to cosponsor his bill, which was his first successful bill since taking office in December.
"Each of our districts has faced the problem of illegal dumping," he said.
Crandell's bill was amended to take out wording that banned dumping trash "adjacent to" roads, bridges, alleys and drains. While that wording was intended to cover people who dump near road shoulders, there was a concern the language could be used to fine a homeowner who lives near an alley but keeps a compost pile or other debris at their property line that would otherwise be legal.
If the bill is signed by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, it will take effect on April 20.
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